The 1920 Bombay Mint Four Annas An Observed Variety in Mint-Mark Form

The four-anna denomination of British India issued during the reign of King George V is an interesting series for collectors of British Indian coinage, particularly because of its distinctive scalloped-octagonal shape, multilingual inscriptions and mint-specific diagnostics. Among the Bombay Mint issues, small differences in the mint mark can provide important clues for identifying possible die varieties.

George Frederick Ernest Albert, popularly known as George V, was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 6 May 1910 until his death on 20 January 1936. He was the second son of Albert Edward, later King Edward VII, and was born during the reign of his grandmother, Queen Victoria.

During George V's reign, the four-anna coin was struck between 1919 and 1921 at the Calcutta and Bombay Mints. The denomination was produced in a copper-nickel alloy and has a distinctive scalloped-octagonal flan with a plain edge. The coin measures approximately 24 mm across and weighs about 6.8 g. The obverse features the crowned bust of George V facing left, surrounded by an English inscription identifying the monarch. The reverse is particularly attractive from a numismatic perspective. The denomination is placed within a rectangular ornamental frame, with the value expressed as “4 ANNAS” in English and repeated in the principal Indian scripts used on the coin: Urdu, Bengali, Telugu and Devanagari.

The two principal minting locations can normally be distinguished by the mint mark. Calcutta Mint issues bear no mint mark, whereas the Bombay Mint issues are identified by a raised dot beneath the Telugu inscription. This small feature is therefore an important diagnostic element when attributing an individual specimen. A particularly interesting observation concerns a 1920 Bombay Mint four annas showing a difference in the form and position of the raised dot beneath the Telugu inscription.

 

Rectangular Dot

 

Circular Dot

 Two apparently distinct forms have been observed:

1. Circular Dot Variety- the mint mark appears relatively rounded or circular and is positioned approximately near the centre beneath the Telugu inscription.
2. Rectangular/Elongated Dot Variety- the mint mark appears more elongated, approaching a rectangular form, and is positioned slightly toward the left compared with the circular-dot example.

The accompanying photograph illustrates these two forms. The circular-dot variety is the lower specimen in the photograph, while the upper specimen shows the more elongated or rectangular form.

An additional point of interest is the difference in recorded weight between the two specimens. The circular-dot specimen weighs approximately 0.1 g more than the rectangular-dot specimen. Interestingly, the heavier circular-dot coin is in comparatively poorer physical condition. A difference of 0.1 g should not, by itself, be regarded as definitive evidence of a separate die variety. Circulation wear, corrosion, surface loss, manufacturing tolerances and subsequent environmental deterioration can all influence the recorded weight of an old copper-nickel coin. Nevertheless, when a weight difference occurs together with a consistent difference in the shape and position of the mint mark, it becomes worthy of closer examination.

Mint marks are among the most useful diagnostic features in British Indian coinage. In many series, apparently minor differences in the size, shape or position of a mint mark can help researchers distinguish between dies or die combinations. The two 1920 Bombay specimens discussed here may therefore represent a possible mint-mark or die variety, although further study would be necessary before assigning them a formal variety designation.

For a reliable attribution, additional specimens should be examined to determine whether the circular and rectangular forms occur consistently. High-resolution photographs, precise measurements of the mint-mark dimensions and position, and accurate weights would be particularly useful. It would also be valuable to compare the specimens with documented examples in major numismatic references and institutional or private collections.

Another useful diagnostic is the position of the dot relative to the Telugu characters and the lower border of the denomination panel. If the observed difference is reproduced on multiple specimens, it could indicate the use of different punches or working dies at the Bombay Mint rather than merely variations caused by striking or post-mint damage.

Although the four annas was struck in copper-nickel and originally had a bright, silvery appearance, circulated examples can display substantial surface changes. Some specimens may develop dark grey, brown or even rust-like reddish-brown coloration. Such deterioration can be particularly noticeable on examples with a relatively high ferrous component or where the surface has been exposed to adverse environmental conditions.

Consequently, the colour of a circulated specimen should not be used alone to determine its composition or authenticity. Weight, dimensions, diagnostics and, where necessary, metallurgical analysis provide more reliable evidence.

The 1920 Bombay Mint George V four annas is already a desirable type for British India collectors because of its unusual scalloped-octagonal shape and multilingual reverse. The apparent difference between a circular and an elongated/rectangular mint-mark dot adds another layer of interest to the series.

 

The lower coin in the accompanying photograph, with its more centrally positioned circular dot, appears to represent the circular-dot form, while the upper specimen exhibits the more elongated dot positioned slightly to the left. The approximately 0.1 g difference in weight is also noteworthy, although it should be treated as supporting observation rather than conclusive evidence of a distinct variety.

Further examination of a larger number of 1920 Bombay Mint specimens may establish whether these two mint-mark forms represent genuine die or punch varieties. If confirmed across multiple examples, this small diagnostic feature could prove valuable for advanced collectors and researchers studying the die varieties of George V's British Indian coinage.